Telegraph-key.



R. L. BOULTER.

TELEGRAPH KEY. APPLICATION IILED AUGJS, 1912. l gyg ggl a Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR is I COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH c0-,wA$H|No1oN. D. c.

R. L. BOULTER.

TELEGRAPH KEY.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.13, 1912.

1,@74,881 v Patented 001;. 7, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES 4 0 .38

/ I I v A/lorney CDLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CQqWASHINOTON. D- cv ROYAL Ii. BOULTEB, 0]? L05 ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TELEGRAPH-KEY.

Application filed August 13, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, ROYAL L. Born/rim, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telegraph- Keys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to telegraph keys.

The present invention relates to that class of telegraph keys known as transmitters or vibrators which employ a vibratory reed or pendulum in connection with a key for the purpose of making the dots to relieve the operator of the repeated finger and wrist movements necessary with the ordinary telegraph key when making a series of dots. This class of transmitter also employs a separate key for forming dashes. The two keys are, in most transmitters at present known to the art, arranged for movement laterally or sidewise, as contradistinguished from the up and down movement of the old type of telegraph key, and they are particularly designed for sending messages rapidly with a minimum effort on the part of the operator, but are particularly useful to operators having writers cramp or telegraphers paralysis. Heretofore transmitters of this type, while supe rior in many respects to the old style Morse key, have been incapable of such adjust ment as to adapt them for both fast and slow work and for use on both long and short lines; they have been subject to the involuntary formation of what operators term split dots owing to the quick vibrations of the vibrator or reed which occur before the lever is released, particularly in letters of the alphabet having but one dot such as A and N and they have usually also been complicated, have occupied considerable space and are-liable to derangement.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a transmitter or vibrator telegraph key which will be simple, compact, strong, durable, susceptible of any desired adjustment of the contacts, and particularly those used for forming dots.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a telegraph transmitter or vibrator, of novel, adjustable dot producing means combined with a vibrator in a new Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented @ct. 7, 1913.

Serial No. 714,794.

manner and susceptible of adjustment within a wide range which will be adapted to make a single dot as in the ordinary or Morse key, the vibrator having nothing to do with the making of a single dot, and to produce a plurality of dots automatically without possibility of sending split dots.

The dot making mechanism embodies means whereby the electrical circuit is closed through the contacts except when periodically opened automatically by the vibrations of the vibrator due to the new contact employed and the new manner in which the vibrator cooperates with said contact, whereby the circuit is automatically and regularly opened by the vibrations of the vibrator with short intermittent interruptions. This construction results in closing of the circuit for a maximum of time and the sending of the longestand heaviest dots possible, so far as I am aware, in any vibratory transmitting telegraph instrument. At the same time, the construction is such that a single dot is formed as with an ordinary Morse key.

The instrument is adapted for slow or fast work and on either short or long circuits.

One embodiments of the invention is set forth fully hereinafter and the novel features thereof are recited in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings :'Figure 1 is a plan view; Fig. 2, a side view; Fig. 3, a bottom plan view; and Figs. 41- and 5, detail sectional views.

The base 1 is preferably of metal to form a part of the circuit, one of the binding posts 2 being connected thereto, the other binding post 3 being insulated therefrom. The adjustable dash contact 1 and the adjustable dot contact 5 are in. circuit with the binding post 8 by the connections 6. A circuit closer is shown at 7.

Suitably secured to the base 1 is a metallic box 8. The dot lever 9 and the dash lever 10 have trunnions 11 and 12, respectively, which are pivoted to the box 8, said levers lying within the said box and being provided with finger-pieces or keys 13 and 1 1 suitably secured thereto and of insulating material, preferably of a certain degree of flexibility to cushion the pressure of the fingers of the operator; The respective le- Z vers-have lugs 15and'16 WhlCh'fllG adapted to engage the-box 8 and limit the return movement of the levers, these lugs'acting as stops. through the side of box 8 is also adapted to limit the play of the dot lever 9. 7 An adjustable screw 18 and a spring 19 regulate the tension exerted on: the dot lever and similar screw and spring 20 and 21 perform a corresponding function in reference to the dash lever 10. The dash lever carries a contact 22 -which engages the dash-contact at on:the base 1.

The dot lever 9 is provided with'an upward extension 2 1 having arms to which are connected leaf springs 25 to which in turn is connected a cross-piece 26. Suitably secured-to this cross-piece, in an adjustablemanner, if desired, is'a rod27 on which is an adjust-ablewvei'ght or bob 28. Therod "27 has an extension or arm 29- preferably provided with a small'roller 30. The mech-' anism just described constitutes a' vibrator -which, if the operators'finger be allowed to remain againstthe key'13 after pressure thereon, is set into vibration, the amplitude and rapidity of which is controlled by the position 01'' the adjustable weight or bob 28.

On the base 1 there is provided a 'postfi-ll having a clamping screw 32 by-which a -stop 33 may be secured in any desir'ed position of "lateral adjustment, said stop being preferably provided with a roller 34: having a loose pivotal or axial connection with the ycontact-39 which-is provided with a plati stop and adapted to be engaged by' the rod 27 when the pressure is released on the key 13 to thereby imm'ediat-elybringthe vibrator to a state "of rest.

Slidable through an opening in the'upward extension 24: of the dot lever is a tubular stem 35 which may beheld in any desired position-by a'screw- 36. *Pivoted' at 37 to. an arm 38 on the stem 35 is an angular num tip tO adaptedv to-engage the dot contact" 5. Screwthreadedthrough the other arm of the, Contact is an anvil screwil which is adapted for; any desired adjust ment and for engagement by the tapping thereon of the roller-'- 80 of the tapper arm 29. The contact 39 has a lug 42 adapted to cooperate with the arm 38on'the'stem'35 to limit-theplay ofsaid con-tact. Extending through the tubular stein-35 is a spring 43 whose extent of compressionmay be regulatedby a screw itthreaded into said stem 35, said spring bearing againstthe contact- 39 and tending to properly position it and -to cushion said contact to permit it to'vibrate' in producing a plurality of; dots under the tapping action produced 'cn' the anvil screw 41 when the vibrator is vibrating.

The forefinger is-usedto, operate the dash key 1 1 and the thu'mb the dot key--13,the movement of the hand being in a general An adjustable screw 17 threadedlateral direction as contradistinguished from the general vertical direction used in operatring the old style Morse key. When a .dash

is to be-forined,-the key le is pressed. When a single dot is to be formed, the key 13 is tapped or pressed with the thumb, where- .upon the dot lever 9, the vibrator composed ot the springs 25, the rod 27, and-theangular contact 39 move as an entirety for the formationof a" single dot. If, however, a

plurality of dots are to be formed, the presaction of springiiiythereby momentarily separating the platinum tip iOiromithe dot contact 5' and -prcducing. theplurality of dots desired, according to the-period thekey 13 is under pressure. Upon the-release" of the key 13, "t-he rod'27 by striking against the roller t immediately bringsthe vibrator to 1 a position of rest.

As a result of this construction, am 'able to produce, so far as I am aware, the longest and heaviest dots which it :hasbeen; possible 'tomake on a transmitter key'as theicircuit is closed for a maximum o'ftimeduringthe travel of the-vibratonand IHthereby-avoid the formation of split dots, but atithesame time gain all the advantagesaof the formation of a single" dot without: any: dangerof splitting the dot in that'event.

It will be observedthat in the formation of dots, the operation is difi'erentr fromxthat in vibrating transmitters heretofore-known, asthe movement of the keyon the applica-' tion of pressure thereon at once eiiects an initial positive engagement of the dot-sending contacts. i Having thus described my invention,'what I claim as new and-desire to' secure'by-Letters Patent, is:- V

1. In a telegraph transmitter, the combination with an operating key, of aemovable spring cushioned contact avdapted' to be :operated thereby, and a vibrator also adapted to be operated by the key in addition to the adaptability of the key-to operate the spring cushionedcontactandarranged and adapted to tap or actuate the contact. in opposition to the spring cushioned action-thereof.

2. In a telegraph transmitter, the'zoombination with anoperating key, of=ancontact pivoted 'thereto and bodily: movable therewithpspring means toncushioningsaid contact, and a 1 'vibraton carried by the :key: :and

arranged and adapted to tap or actuate the contact in opposition to the spring cushioned action thereon.

3. In a telegraph transmitter, the combination with an operating key, of a movable contact carried thereby, a vibrator also carried by the key, and an adjustable tappet device interposed between the contact and the vibrator, whereby the vibrator is adapted to deliver taps on said contact.

4. In a telegraph transmitter, the combination with an operating key, of a movable contact carried thereby, a vibrator also carried by the key, an adjustable tappet device interposed between the contact and the vi.- brator, whereby the vibrator is adapted to deliver taps on said contact, and an adjustable spring cushion for said contact.

5. In a telegraph transmitter, the combination with an operating key, of a contact pivoted to the key and also having an adjustable connection therewith, whereby it may be moved as an entirety in relation to the key.

6. In a telegraph transmitter, an operating key, in combination with a stem adjustably carried thereby, a contact pivotally mounted on the stem, and a spring tension device for said contact.

7 In a telegraph transmitter, an operating key, in combination with a stem adjustably carried thereby, a contact movably mounted on the stem, and a spring tension device for said contact embodying a spring extending through the stem, and a screw for regulating the tension on said spring.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROYAL L. BOULTER.

Witnesses:

F. G. HENTIG, A. L. JEFFERY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents.

Washington, D. G. 

